Game apparatus including projectors



Nov. 10, 1959 G. w. HAYWARD 259127246 GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING PROJECTOR-S Filed April 4, 1956 IN VENTOR v George W Hayward l2 d BY ATTORNEY United States Patent i GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING PROJECTORS George W, Hayward, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application April 4, 1956, Serial No. 575,986

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-101) This invention relates in general to useful improvements in game apparatuses, andmore specifically to a game apparatus of the board type which includes at least one projector at one end of the board for projecting a suitable missile or game piece toward a target at the opposite end of the board.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved game apparatus of the type which may be conveniently set up on ones table, placed on the floor or otherwise assume the position for the playing of the game, the game apparatus being selfcontained and being ready for play immediately on being set up.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved game apparatus of the type which includes an elongated game board, the game board being provided with projectors at opposite ends thereof and a target for each of the projectors whereby players positioned at opposite ends of the game board may, in turn, project suitable game pieces toward targets at their opponents end of the game board and such pieces may later be projected by their opponent.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved game apparatus which includes an elongated game board having a projector at one end and a target at the opposite end, the target being primarily in the form of a pin to receive thereon game pieces of the type commonly referred to as a quoit or horseshoe, the target also including a target area painted or otherwise placed on the surface of the board, the target area being in the form of a plurality of concentric rings being usable either as a bullseye type target or for determining the distance of game pieces from the central pin, the target also including additional apertures for receiving either additional pins or the first mentioned pin when it is so desired to vary the target.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved game apparatus which includes an elongated game board having projectors at opposite ends thereof, each of the projectors being provided with a projecting pin serving as a target for an opponent, the pin intended to have positioned thereon apertured game pieces such as quoits and the like.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a game apparatus of the type which includes projectors for projecting suitable game pieces toward target areas, the game apparatus and the projectors being of extremely simple construction and formed of readily obtainable relatively cheap material so that the game apparatus is economically feasible.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the game apparatus, which is the subject of this invention, and shows the general 2,912,246 Patented Nov. 10, 1959 outline thereof, intermediate portions of the game board part of the game apparatus being broken away; s

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure l and shows the general details of the construction of the game board and'its supporting frame as well as the details of mounting and construction of a projector on the end of the game board, the projector being shown in elevation for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one end of the game board, the game board being provided with a slightly modified form of projector including a target.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the game apparatus, which is the subject of this invention, the game apparatus being re ferred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The game apparatus 10 includes a suitable supporting frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. This supporting frame 12 is generally rectangular in plan and includes elongated side members .14 which are connected together at opposite ends thereof by end members 16. Supported on the upper edges of the members 14 and the end members 16 and closing the top of the supporting frame 12 is a suitable planar game board 18. The game apparatus 10 is intended to be utilized by two players and accordingly the game board 18 has imprinted or otherwise placed on the upper surface thereof identical targets adjacent opposite ends thereof, the targets being referred to in general by the reference numeral 20. Each target 20 includes a central aperture 24 extending partially through the game board 18 and removably receiving a target pin 22. Surrounding the target pin 22 in concentric relation is a target area 26 of the bullseye type. The target area 26 may either be used separately or in conjunction with the target pin 22. There is also formed in the upper part of the game board 18 a plurality of target pin receiving apertures 30. The apertures 30 are placed at suitable positions about the target area 26 and are intended to either selectively receive the target pin 22 or additional target pins identical to the target pin 22.

In view of the use of a target pin, such as the target pin 22, it is desired that suitable missiles or game pieces intended to be projected at a target pin be utilized. Such a game piece 32 has been shown. The game piece 32 is in the form of an apertured disc which is generally considered a quoit. However, game pieces in the shape of horseshoes and the like may be utilized and if the target pin 22 is dispensed with, game pieces without apertures may be projected directly at the target areas 26.

Positioned at each end of the game apparatus 10 is a mounting block 34. The mounting block 34 is a part of the supporting frame 12 and is illustrated as underlying the game board 18. If desired, however, it may be positioned above the game board 18 although for purposes of appearance it is desired that it be positioned as illustrated. 4

The mounting block 34 forms a support for a projector 36, there being one projector 36 for each end of the game board 18. The mounting block 34 has a longitudinal slot 38 opening therethrough, the slot 38 also being aligned with a slot 40 opening through the game board 18. Positioned within the slots 38 and 40 and guided by the side walls thereof is an elongated shank 42 of the projector 36. Extending through an intermediate portion of the shank 42 is a pivot pin 44 having its opposite end suitably journaled in the mounting block 34. Extending between the lower end of the shank 42 and adjacent one of the I end walls 16 is a tension spring 46.

Extending upwardly and away from the upper end of the shank 42 toward the opposite end of the game board 18 is a game piece support 48. The game piece support 48 is illustrated as being circular in outline, but may be of any desired configuration. The shank 42 also terminates in a projecting portion 5% which functions as grip portion for pivoting the projector 36 against the tension of the spring 46 into firing position. When the projector 36 is released, the tension spring 46 will quickly snap the projector 36 from its pivoted position to the position illustrated in Figure 2 thus projecting the game piece 32 toward the target 28 at the opposite end of the game board 18.

All of the components of the game apparatus may be formed of any desired, relatively inexpensive material. It is primarily desired that materials such as wood, hard boards and plastic be used in the formation of the various components of the game apparatus 10. However, if desired, parts other than the spring 46 may be formed of metal or other materials.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game apparatus comprising a supporting frame,

a game board mounted on said frame, said supporting frame including a mounting block beneath opposite ends of said game board, projectors for game pieces, means vertically pivotally mounting said projectors through said mounting blocks, with a portion of said projectors extending transversely through said game board, means on said portion for supporting a game piece, and a target pin beneath said means on said projectors and extending toward each other for receiving a projected game piece thereon said means vertically pivotally mounting said projectors comprising slots extending angularly away from said ends of said game board through which an intermediate portion of the projectors extends, said slots defining the range of pivotal movement of said projectors.

2. In game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projectors are of the spring-urged type, a spring extending between a lower end portion of the projectors and said supporting frame, said spring being disposed beneath said game board and mounting blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 943,343 Ericson Dec. 14, 1909 1,341,185 Lowman May 25, 1920 1,572,401 McGrath Feb. 9, 1926 2,432,824 Shetler Dec. 16, 1947 2,578,375 Sire Dec. 11, 1951 

